Scroll to the bottom for video...
From Windsor to Bamburgh, Warwick to Dover - my 11-year-old son Odhran and 8-year-old son Reuben have visited a fair share of castles in their young lives, but there's one they've crowned their favourite - Hever Castle in Kent. And it's easy to see why this attraction holds so much appeal for young visitors...
There's the terrible Tudors - Steeped in history, this 14th century double-moated castle was once the home of Anne Boleyn - second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. Having visited Hampton Court Palace (Henry's favourite lavish residence) and the Tower of London (where Anne was held prisoner and beheaded), we find it interesting to piece these moments in history together. Kids can learn so much from visiting these sites, and it's more engaging than simply reading from a book in class.
After falling into decline, Hever Castle was restored wealthy American, William Waldorf Astor, in the early 1900s. Astor also commissioned the construction of the beautiful gardens and lake. Inside Hever Castle are Tudor-era rooms, featuring rick oak panelling and historical artefacts. But there's also the elegant early 20th century drawing room, where the Astors hosted high-profile guests, such as Winston Churchill, who lived just down the road at Chartwell country estate.
It's the perfect place for a picnic - Hever Castle is set in 125 acres of beautiful grounds and there are designated lawns where you're welcome to lay your blanket and enjoy a picnic. We settled on a large open space in front of the castle, where there were picnic tables and gazebos set up for shade. There were little kiosks selling donuts and coffee, strawberries and slushies. We treated ourselves to delicious gelato from one of the vendors.
Fun to be had in the water maze - As far as Odhran and Reuben are concerned, this is the number one attraction at Hever Castle and it proved the perfect way to cool down when we visited during a heatwave. There are stepping stones over water and at certain points they tilt and trigger a jet of water. The boys loved leaping through the spray, as they hopped around and reached the grotto in the centre. It's great fun but remember to bring a towel and a change of clothes!
Stunning grounds to explore - Alongside the water maze, there's a 100-year-old yew maze to explore, a giant topiary chess set to admire and you can take a boat out on the lake. Follow the course of a stream through woodland or breathe in the scent of thousands of roses when the English Rose Garden bursts with life and colour in May and June. Kids can run around and climb through net tunnels at The Tudor Towers Playground, which boasts a nine metre tall wooden play castle. Acorn Dell Play Area offers space for younger visitors to explore.
Seasonal events to entertain - There are fun events running at different times throughout the year. When we visited, the Summer Jousting Tournament was taking place, and this is currently running until 31st August. The event started with Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and a few of their Royal Foot soldiers gathered at the Castle forecourt before we followed a procession to the events field. There were displays of action, stunts, falls and fights, and this added entertainment was covered in the standard Gardens Only or Castle & Gardens admission ticket. This August bank holiday weekend, visitors can step back in time as Hever in History transforms the grounds with living history encampments and re-enactments ranging from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century. If you're planning further ahead, there's Halloween half term fun on offer and we love the look of The Nutcracker's Christmas, running from 20th November - 2 January.
How much does it cost?
Great British Summer Savings (running until 1st September) means you can enjoy cheaper entry. A family ticket (two adults/up to three children OR one adult/up to four children (ages 5-17) currently costs £58.30 for Castle & Gardens ticket purchased online, or £47.85 for Gardens Only purchased online. Prices on entry are higher at £64.80 for family Castle & Gardens entry, or £53.20 for Gardens Only.